Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Prepare a Bisque

A good bisque reflects the flavor of the main ingredient. If you have added cream to round out and mellow the soup, it should not mask the main flavor. All bisques are slightly coarse or grainy, with a consistency similar to heavy cream. A crustacean bisque is pale pink or […]

One-Dish Meals

Lobster Ravioli with Corn Sauce

Makes 5 or 6 servings Striping the pasta is really fun, but also takes some time. You may want to batch it out and save some of the dough for later. When you make this, you may want to prepare extra ravioli and freeze them. The sauce will also freeze […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Making Chocolate Curls to Dress Up Dessert

Chocolate shavings and curls are the simplest way to finish a show-stopping cake or other special occasion dessert. To create chocolate shavings and curls, you need a good-sized block of chocolate at room temperature. You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate for your curls. Look for larger […]

Main Dishes

Porchetta

Makes 6 to 8 servings Traditional porchetta can be made several different ways. This simplified preparation calls for a boneless pork loin cut into quarters, surrounded by Italian sausage with sautéed onions and fennel added, and wrapped in a butterflied pork belly. The whole thing is then tied and slowly […]

Main Dishes

Ravioli Filled with Beets, Butter, and Poppy Seeds

Makes 6 servings The bright red beet shines through the pasta dough, making these beautiful ravioli the perfect dish for entertaining. They make for a great pasta course or vegetarian main, but you can add bacon or prosciutto to the stuffing for a more complex flavor.

Pies and Tarts

Rhubarb Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie Rhubarb is tart, but well-balanced by the oat crumble we’ve paired it with here. Some rhubarb stalks may be tender enough, but if your rhubarb has a thick outer membrane (you can tell by peeling a bit back with your fingers), you may want to remove […]

Main Dishes

Roast Duck With Orange Sauce

Makes 4 to 6 servings This updated take on the classic duck à l’orange is decadent enough for a special occasion, but simple enough for dinner any night. Though rich duck breast is the perfect accompaniment to the sweet and tangy citrus sauce, you can also pair it with sautéed […]